Trump edged out Shaun Murphy 6-5 in the first semi-final on Friday before Williams beat Si more comfortably 6-3, despite two centuries from the Chinese youngster.
To the winners go the spoils and the finalists know they are guaranteed £200,000 for their efforts in Riyadh, while the champion will leave with £500,000, the joint biggest prize in snooker history.
The Englishman will go in as favourite to become the first ever winner of the Saudi Arabia Masters, with the world number one enjoying an excellent record in his head-to-head against Williams and proving to be a much more consistent winner over the last few years.
It is the winning rather than the money that motivates the Ace, though, regardless of whether it’s Riyadh for half a million quid or Brentwood next week for a fraction of that at the English Open.
‘I’ve had a good couple of seasons so the money doesn’t come into it. I’d rather win,’ Trump said after beating Murphy. ‘The feeling I get when I lose is the worst feeling in the world, I’d pay any money not to do that.
‘It means a lot to me in every tournament I play in. I think everyone knows how much it means to me, no matter what tournament it is. I want to win desperately.’
Williams does not quite have the ravenous hunger that Trump feels, but he is probably more relaxed as he is playing with house money after ticking off the last box he really wanted to in his stunning career.
‘I said two seasons ago, I just want to see where my game is when I’m 50 years of age and see if I can be I the top 16, I think that would be a good enough achievement for me,’ said the 49-year-old.
‘I’m only six months away from my 50th and I think I’m almost guaranteed to be in the top 16. Let’s see where I can be now, maybe in the top 10.
‘I think it is [pride], because I have been around a long time. ’92 I first turned professional. I think people forget I went down for a couple of seasons to about 47 in the rankings, looking like I could drop off. So what a turn around a few years later to be well in the top 10. Something I couldn’t have dreamt of.’
For the three-time world champion to be into 42nd ranking final as he approaches 50 is incredible stuff, especially given that his eyes are only just holding up.
‘My eyes are deteriorating pretty quick to be honest,’ he said. ‘Long ones I see three reds and just aim at the one in the middle. I have looked at getting my eyes done but I’m guessing alright at the minute so I’m not going to bother.’#
Trump and WIlliams have the chance to further their legends on Saturday, while Si has continued on the very early steps of that journey this week.
The 22-year-old announced himself as one of the hottest prospects in the game by reaching the World Championship semi-final last year and has backed that up with a run to the German Masters final and by beating Williams at the Crucible since then.
His victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter-finals this week showed once again that he is very likely to graduate from prospect to snooker superstar in the coming years.
He is lacking in the tactical department, as nearly all young players are, but he is such a brilliantly talented technician that he can still blast his way past the world’s best.
If he develops more craftiness in the safety exchanges then he will be a force that few can deal with on the baize, as Williams himself predicted.
‘He’s the one they’re probably putting the hopes on to take over after Trump,’ said the Welshman. ‘He’ll be taking over, when I’ll be walking in my zimmer frame on table 28 in the back. He’s got a great future ahead of him and I’m looking forward to see where he can go. If he can reach his potential he can win anything.’
Si is set for the top 16 thanks to his semi-final run in Riyadh and will be comfortably the youngest player in that elite bracket, in fact he was comfortably the youngest in the top 32 coming into this event.
Many have come and gone without reaching their potential, but Si looks to have as good a chance of any player currently under 30 to go right to the top.
He may well continue his improvement by watching the incredible all-round games that will be on display when Trump and Williams tangle on Saturday.
The powerful world number one and the wily veteran have their strengths, but don’t think Trump can’t tie you up in knots and Williams can’t blast you away with breaks.
We’ll see the lot in Saturday’s final and thankfully, it seems, it will be in front of a decent crowd after a very slow uptake has finally improved in Riyadh.
The opening rounds of the new tournament were barely attended by anyone at all, before O’Sullivan inevitably drew the crowds and Friday’s semi-finals enjoyed a good atmosphere.
The fans who turn up for the showpiece will be treated to the finest player in the world right now against one of the best to ever do it.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE : Ronnie O’Sullivan makes snooker top-16 prediction after admitting ‘steady decline’
MORE : Ali Carter on crowds, draws and criticism in Saudi Arabia and his place in snooker history
MORE : Matt Selt’s cue chaos and new plan to take him to the top
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
